Water softeners can be appliances that remove calcium and magnesium ions from hard water and replace them with sodium. Some water softening systems use potassium in place of sodium – continue reading. Too much calcium or magnesium can make water hard, causing many problems for household appliances as well as your plumbing fixtures and pipes.
The hard water leaves a calcified residue on taps, sinks and tableware. Hard water also leaves stains in your bathroom tiles and bathtubs, discolored laundry, dry skin, hair, and broken appliances like coffee makers, dish washers, water heaters and laundry washers.
Your energy bill can be increased if you don’t soften water. The heater won’t work properly, making it more difficult to maintain the right temperature. You will need to run the rinse cycle more often to get soap scum off of your laundry and tableware. This will increase your electric bill.
You may save thousands of dollars by purchasing a water treatment system instead of replacing pipes and appliances. You can save money by choosing the right home water softener. These steps will help you select the best softening system to suit your home.
1. Find out how much water you household uses. According to the US Geological Survey, an American family of four or five people uses 400 to 500 gallons of water per day. This is approximately 80 to 100 gallons for each person. Simply multiply 80 or 100 times the number of household members.
2. There are two main types of home water savers. The first system automatically softens water at a particular time each day. This system also includes a timer which determines when water has been softened and shuts off the unit accordingly. When water is needed to be softened, the second type of softener operates on demand. This is the best type for people who have fluctuating water requirements each day.
3. The ease of cleaning is another important aspect to consider when looking for a softener. To prevent salt particles from entering your water supply, you will need to clean the water softener system every now and again. You can find home water softeners with minimal maintenance that are easy to maintain. It can be expensive to hire a professional cleaner.
4. Make sure the softening system is available for purchase and has a nearby service center. If the unit breaks down, or you are unable to find replacement parts, it can become a problem. If there are parts nearby, you don’t need to be without softened water too long.